Football-game apparatus



2l 1927. June A. E. scHURcH FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Ausz- 50. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4mysan 31a/vanta Adolph E. .Schufch auw: nut

. y l 1,633,040V June 21' 1927' A.l E. scHURcH FOOTBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 50. 1926 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 Adolph E. 50h urh Patented June 21, l19v27.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE.

AnoLrn E. sommen, or Los ANGELES, cAnTFonNIA.

FOOTBALL-GAME APPARATUS.

Application led Aug-ust 30, 1.926. Serial No. 132,343.

This invention relates to a game apparatus to enable two players to play a game simulating football, and inwhich the plays are determined by chance, The general object of the invention is to provide a simple apparatus including a game board representlng the football field, and provided with devices located generally at each side of the boardi so that there will be a set of the .devices corresponding to each player; also to lprovide a chance device capable of being operated readily by each of the playersand to provide a compact arrangement for the game board and apparatus carried by itl to facilitate the playing of the game and the indicating of the scores of the players.

In the playing of the game, a small die representing the football is placed at differentpoints on the field, as indicated by the play which has been determined by chance, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide the board with means along the side ofthe football field which will indicate plays which would.be appropriate to the regular game of football when the ball is in a certain location on the field.

Further objects of the invention\will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel p arts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an eilicient football game apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification,

while thebroad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a plan of a embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a .vertical section taken through one end of the board and indicating a score-board which constitutes a feature of the invention.

Figure 3 is an ideal section taken about on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5, particularly illustraining jthe construction of the chance device.

y Figure 4 is a plan of the cover of the chance device, and particularly illustrating the use of distinctive characters fordetermining the play to be made by the player.

Figure 5 is a planof the chance device with its cover removed and indicating details of thcconstruction ofthis device.

Figure 6 is a plan showing the bottom game apparatus plate of the chance device with details of its construction. i

4Figure 7 is a plan illustratin the face of one of the dials which I emp oy on the apparatus.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing another dial located at another point on the board.

vFigure 9 is a view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

.In its construction, the apparatus includes a rectangular board 1 whlch may be con-y structed of any suitable rigid material. On the central longitudinal axis of this boar-d,4 a football field 2 is represented by side lines 3 and transverse ten-yard lines 4, which are numbered consecutively in the usual manner.' At each end of the field, goals 5 are indicated by lines on the face of the board.

On each side ofthe board, I provide a row of dials 6. The dials on one'si-de are to be used by one of the players and the dials on the other side by the other player. These dials include intermediate dials which are located opposite the different yard lines of the eld and end dials 7 and 8. There are two of the dials 7 which are located in diametrically opposite corners, and likewise there are two of the dials 8 located in diametrically opposite corners. The dials 7 are alike. Each of these dials is divided into sectors 9 and these sectors carry different legends corresponding to different football plays which would be made at the time of the kick-off and return of the ball. Adjacenteach of these dials the board carries a legend indicating this.

Each dial'7 is provided with a movable member, for example, a dise 10 with a gap 11 of sector form. This disc may be rotated by means `of* a central button 12 so asto bring this gap 11 over any one of the sectors 9. 1

A small pea or die 13 is. used to represent a'football and it may rest at any point on the ield to indicate the present position of the ball during the game. The player sitting at .the lower side of the board, as inv dicated in Fig. 1, would use the dial 7 .at the left in making his rst play. In other Words, this dial is locatednear the end of the board where the ball is supposed to be kicked off. Y

The dials 6 are formed with sectors 14 ioo having different legends toindicate di'erent football plays which would'be appropriate in the game when the ball is located oppo- 'site to any certain dial, for example in intermediate dials has a legend near it on the board reading Run and pass and Point after touchdown, and the legends on the sectors 15 of this dial would be appropriate to the playing of the ame if the ball were on this ten-yard line fore the right-hand goal and being advanced toward this goal. The other intermediate dials have the title Punt and returnmRun and pass. The legend on the board corresponding to the dials 8 is Drop or place kick, and the legends on the sectors 16 of'these dials 8 indicate plays corresponding to drop and place kicks.

Every dial is provided with a movable member, such as the disc 10, `with a central button for rotating the disc into any posi tion which may be indicated by a chance device 17 which is located on the board, and preferably at the left end beyond the end of the field. This chance device is intended to operate with aI marble or ball which is projected along a raceway and comes to rest in some position determinedv by chance or by the force with which the ball is projected. This chance device is constructed of a block 18 havin a continuous raceway 19 which may be o long or elliptical, and in the bottom of which is formed a series of shallow pockets 20 in any one ofj'which the ball may stop (see lTig. 9). Each pocket lis slightly depressed Abelow the bottom 21 of the raceway. The ball or mafrble may be projected along the raceway by each pla er.

In order to accomplish this, provide two projecting devices 22 (see Fig. 5), each consistmg of a lever 23 pivoted at 24 so that it -is capable of swinging to and fro in a sectorshaped gap 25 which is cut in the upper face of the block. In this 'gap a spring l26 isr mounted which bears against the back of the projecting lever 23. On the forward side of the projecting lever 23, a small cup 27 `1s formed to hold the ball 28. If the] thumb iece 29 on the end of the lever 23 is moved 1n the direction of the arrow near the bottom of Fig. 5, the lever can be'fswung back toward the position in which it is indicated in dotted lines. This will' flex the spring 26 -and when the lever is released, tnhespring will swing it toward the right and the ball,

\in a certain pocket and the pla'yer has finished his play, the ball may be released so as to enable it to beprojected in the raceway by the other player.

In order to accomplish this, I provide a bottom plate 32 which forms the bottom for all of the pockets 20. This plate has a-plurality of openings 33 formed in it and located slightly out of alignment with the pockets 20. The plate is further provided with a projecting thumb piece 34 which enables the plate to be rotated about a pivot, point 35 which attaches the plate to the under side of theblock. `A spring 36 is provided for returning this plate'to its normal position after it has. been moved to open the pockets.

Under the plate 32, a gutter plate 37 is provided which is attached to the under side,

of the block and this gutter plate inclines toward a delivery point 38, to which point ,the marble or ball will roll from' any point ait which it is released. f

ln Fig. 7, I illustrate one of the intermediate dials 6, and particularly the lefthand dial which is in `line with the ten-yard line. 'Ihe sectors on this dial may cafrry legends as indicated in Fig. 7 to indicate different plays. ^In Fig. 8, I illustrated the intermediate dial which is opposite the fifty- "yard line and the legends on the sectors of this dial would correspond to playswhich the ball should ha've.when located at this point land being advanced toward the right down the field.

In playing the game, after a player has operated the chance device, he observes the pocket in which the ball iinally rests, together with the letter or character which is carried on the glazed window above this pocket. This character is a key character .the le end near' the edge of the' dial, which 1 1'5Kl which determines what the play will be, for

is to t e effect that No. 5 was offside so that there is a loss of five yards penalty to the player. The ball or die 13 would then bc moved live yards to the left. The dials 7 and 8 are operated in the same way asf'the dials 6 in "pla ing the game, that is to say, when the ia s 7 and 8 are used, the position in which their determining disc is laced depends upon the pocket in which the Ball 28 finally rests when the projecting device has been used by the player.

On one of the side lines 3,4, a small indicator 39 may be provided, the length of which represents ten yards. This. indicator should have one en-d placed in alignment with the ball 13 when one of the players has just come into possession of the ball.

At the end of the board opposite the chance device 17, I provide a spore-board 40 with Windows 41 in which the scores may be displayed. The numbers indicating' the scores may be carried on dials, the edges 42 of which project so as to enable the numbers to be changed by the players. If desired, this score-board may be constructed so that it can fold .down onto the face of the board. For this purpose, the face plate 42 of the score-board may be mounted on. a hinge pin 43 so that it can swing up out of a pocket 44 in the face of the board. The rear side of the face plate 42 may be pro- ,vided with one or more triangular -shaped brackets 45 attached by hinges 46 to the back of the face plate. Figure 2 shows the manner in which these parts cooperate to hold the score-board set up. Evidently, by folding the bracket or 4brackets 45.0n their v hinges, the face plate 42 may be folded down intothe plane o the board 1.

The cover 30`of the chance device may have a line 47 to represent a seam of the rcover of a football, and may also have crossmarks 48 to indicate lacing. a What I claim is 1. In a football game apparatus having a game board indicating a football field and a pea representing the football, to be placed at different points on the field, the combination of a chance-device with a plurality of different characters located at different points on the same,and any one of which may be indicated when the chance device is operated, a dial having a margin with different characters around the same corremay be indicated when the chance' device is sponding to the said different characters of the chance-device, and having an indicating member adapted to be moved into a position corresponding to the character indicated by the operation of thechance device, said dial having means for indicating different pla s corresponding to different ositions' of t e saidindi'catin member of t e dial.

2. In a foot all game a paratus havin a. game board indicat-lnga fgotball field an a pea -representing the football to be placed at different points on the field, the combination of a chance-device with a plurality of different characters located at different points on the same, and any one of which operated, a dial on the board adjacent o ne end of the field, having a margin with different characters `around the same corresponding to the said different characters of the chance-device, and bearing legends corresponding to the positions of the different characters around the dial, indicating the yards gained in the kick-0H and the yards lost in the return of the ball, and having an indicating member adapted to be moved into a position corresponding to the character ind icated by the operation `of the chance dev1ce.

3. In a football game apparatus having a game board indicating a football field and a pea representing the football, to be placed at different points on the field, the combination of a chance-device With` a plurality of different characters located y at different points on the same, and any one of which may be indicated when the chance device is operated, a dial adjacent one end of the field for indicating drop, or place, kicks, having a margin with different characters disposed around the same correspondin to the said different characters of the c ance-device, with legends corresponding to the said different characters indicating diderent results from a supposed drop, or place, kick, and having an indicating member movably mounted on the dial ada ted to be moved into aposition correspon ing to the character indicated by the operation of the chance-device. v

4. A football game apparatus having a game board with transverse lines representingthe yard lines of the field, and a pea repferent points on the field, a plurality of dials vdisposed substantially in alignment with the said yard lines, each dial having a plurality of sectors with legends on the same indicating different plays appropriate to the game when the location of the ball is opposite the dial, each dial having a movable member 'adapted to be 'moved to a position determined by .chance to indicate a certain sector and thereby indicate the play to be made.

5. AA football game apparatus: having a game board with transverse ten-yard lines in. dicating the football field, and a movable pea representing the football, to b e placed at different points on the field, a plurality of dials disposed on one side of the board to be used by one of the players and a plurality, of

dials on the other side of the board to be 4the form of sector for'exposing a single sector of the dial'todetermine the play to be made by the player, the legend on any ,board having a plurality of transverse tenyard lines representing the football field,

a pluralit of'dials on one side of the board to be use b one of the players, and a plurallty of dia s. on the other side of the board to be used by the other player, one of said dials at one end of the board having sectors with legends indicating playsl corresponding to the kickotf and return ofthe ball when it is first put in play by one of the players, and havin a movable member associated with the dial for indicating the play to be made, the dial on the diagonally opposite corner of the said board having sectors with legends 'indicating dilferent plays appropriateto the kickoff 1nd return of the all by the adversary when the ball is first put in play, one of said dials at the end of' the board having sectors with legends'indieating drop, or place, kicks witl. a movable member for indlcatin the play to be made when the ball is on t e field near the lastnamed dial, the dial at the diagonall vopposite corner on the other side of the oard avmg sectors with legends indicating drop, or place, kicks, and a movable member associated. with the same to be used by the adversary.

7. In a football game ap aratus, a game board having a plurality of? transverse tenyar'd lines re resenting the football field, a plurality' of ials on one side of the board to be used b one ofthe players, aiid a p lurality of dia s on the other slde of. the board to be used by the other player, one of said dialsv at one end of the board having sectors with le endsindicating plays corresponding to the ick-off and return of theball when it is first put in play by one of the players,A

and havin a movable member associated with the dial for indicating the play to be made, the dial on the diagonallyopposite corner off the said board having sectors with legends indicating different plays ap ropriat'e to the kick-oli' and return of the all y the adversary when the ball is first put in play,'one of said dials at the end of the board having sectors with legends indicating drop, or place, kicks .with a movable member for indicating the play to be made when the ball is on the field near the last-named dial, the dial at the diagonally o posite corner onthe other side of the board aving 'sectors with legends indicating drop, or

place kicks, and a movable member associated with the same to be used by the adversary, the/other vdials on each side of the board being located between the end dials and substantially in line with the different yard lines and having sectorswith legends indicating plays appropriate to the game when the die is located on the yard line oposite that dial, with a movable member for indicating a certain sector to determine the play to be made.

8. In a football game apparatus, a chance device having a continuous raceway and a ball to move along the same, means for projecting the ball along the raceway, said raceway having a plurality of pockets, in any one of which the ball may stop, said pockets having distinctive characters or determining the play to be made, a pivoted 1plate forming the bottoms of the pockets and aving openings correspondin to the different pockets which may align with the pockets when the plate is moved to ermit the ball to fall out of the pocket in w ich it may lodge.

9. In a football game apparatus, a chance device having a raceway, a ball adapted to run long the raceway, a projecting device for the ball disposed near one side of the game board to be used by one of the players a second projecting device for the vball isposed toward the other side of' the game board to be used by the other player, said raceway having a plurality of pockets, in

any one of which the ball may stop, said pockets having different distinctive characters to determine the play to be made by the player. y

10. In a football game apparatus, a game board having transverse ten-yard lines indicating the football field, a row of dials on one side of the board to be used for indicating plays by one of the players, a row of ldials on the other side of the board to be,

used to indicate yplays by the otherv player,

a chance-device on one end of the board beyond the field having o erating means located toward one side o the board operatable by one of the players, and having o erating` means located toward the'other si el ADOLIH E. SCHRCH 1 california this 2a 

